I have to agree with cfish2, velocity is a factor with premium bullets. I have had Barnes and Nosler bullets fail to open up at lower velocity. These were in rifles though and at long range. This year, I'm sticking to my old stand by, Sierra Gamekings. Last year I lost a huge mule deer in Montana because the bullet did not open. The bullet was a Barnes 30 cal, 180 gr in a 30-06 rifle range was 270 yards, the deer was hit through the lungs and ran off at full speed never to be seen again. Remember countless animals have fallen to "standard" bullets.